Southwest Airlines Gives Bostonians the Perfect Excuse for a Trip to the City of Brotherly 'Luv'

PHILADELPHIA, March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Through April 13, residents of Beantown can take advantage of Southwest Airlines' introductory rate of $59 (one-way fare) to Philadelphia for flights booked for June 27 through August 13, 2010. And since new, only-in-Philly and must-see events pack the region's calendar this summer, the timing is perfect. Cleopatra makes her world debut at The Franklin Institute, while the National Constitution Center focuses on Ancient Rome & America. Late Renoir at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a brand new soccer team and stadium, an animal-themed LEGO exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo, a spectacular Fourth of July celebration and more give trip planners plenty of options for any type of getaway.

For even more value and savings, Boston residents can book one of the 70 hotel packages—including the popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package with free hotel parking—featured on visitphilly.com/withlove to receive a special gift at check-in. The giveaway comes with Philly Fill-Ins word games, a five-pack of With Love postcards, a With Love pin and the Official Philly Brag Book, full of 200 reasons to love the Philadelphia region, along with maps and coupons. The packages are bookable online at visitphilly.com/withlove or by calling the hotel directly.

Here are some fun events Bostonians can enjoy this summer in Philadelphia and The Countryside®:

Ancient History:

• What does Rome have to do with America? Lots. Visitors can learn just how significantly the Republic-turned-Empire impacted the new nation in Ancient Rome & America, an 8,000-square-foot exhibition at the National Constitution Center. The exhibit features 300 ancient artifacts, including bronze and marble sculptures, ceramics, coins and jewelry, from Rome's Republican and Imperial periods and examines what America's Founding Fathers learned from the ancient civilization. Through August 1, 2010. 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6700, constitutioncenter.org
• This June, Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt makes its world premiere at The Franklin Institute. More than 250 artifacts and multimedia features will transport visitors from modern-day Philadelphia to ancient Egypt, where the elusive queen ruled as the last Pharaoh before the Romans took power. While her body and much of the evidence of her life were purposely lost in the sands and waters of Egypt, her fascinating story—her rule, the opposition to her throne and her legendary romances with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony—remains. June 5, 2010-January 2, 2011. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, fi.edu

Celebrate America:

• Where better to celebrate America's birthday than in America's birthplace? Philadelphia's Fourth of July Wawa* Welcome America! festival throws a birthday bash to remember, with big-name concerts, two spectacular fireworks shows, tons of family-friendly activities and more. And the best part: It's all free—just like America! welcomeamerica.com
• "Reinvented" and "re-imagined" describe the new Lights of Liberty experience that will envelop participants in 18th-century history by engaging 21st-century technology. The nighttime walking show—set to debut its redo in mid-summer 2010—will employ digital 3-D technology so the images that are projected onto some of the nation's most seminal buildings (think Independence Hall) come to life more vividly than ever. A year-round indoor show will also be added, enabling Benjamin Franklin to host a short exploration of the nation's most resounding symbols in 360 degrees, 3-D imaging. Further, when the new Historic Philadelphia Center opens in early summer, it will house a theater, a box office for all Historic Philadelphia activity tickets and an expanded gift shop. 6th & Chestnut Streets, (215) 629-5801, historicphiladelphia.org

Animal Fun:

• Inquisitive visitors can dive into Creatures of the Abyss, making its U.S. debut at The Academy of Natural Sciences. In order to plumb the depths of the ocean, full-scale models, preserved specimens, exploration vehicles and a bioluminescence theater shed light on the mysteries of the deep sea and the bizarre creatures that live there. June 5-September 6, 2010. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 299-1000, ansp.org
• The magical world of the Philadelphia Zoo becomes even more fantasy-like with Creatures of Habitat: A Gazillion-Piece Animal Adventure, an exhibition designed to call attention to endangered animals with recreations constructed out of LEGOs. Dozens of endangered animals built by Sean Kenny, one of just nine LEGO-sanctioned sculptors in the world, will be on display throughout the 42-acre zoo. Animal lovers can use a special field guide to explore each station and find out what they can do to help save the treasured species in question. April 10-October 31, 2010. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org

Art In Bloom:

• Longwood Gardens' Making Scents: The Art and Passion of Fragrance embraces the beauty of gardens, the glamour of perfumes and the pleasure of wonderful smells. Visitors can delve into the history, science and evocative power of fragrance in the unmatched environment of Longwood's conservatory filled with fragrant lilies, jasmine, lilacs and more than 260 other plants. They'll also have the chance to make their own personalized scent card. April 10-November 22, 2010. 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org
• Fashionistas and movie buffs converge during the James A. Michener Art Museum's Icons of Costume: Hollywood's Golden Era, where designs created for Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Goldie Hawn and other big names take center stage. Among the more than 60 items on display, Kate Winslet's "Heart of the Ocean" from Titanic and Marilyn Monroe's gold-lame dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes are sure to make any movie lover swoon. On weekends, aspiring stars can see if they have what it takes when they don the duds and read the lines for the "Casting Call." Visitors dress in costume reproductions and act out scenes from The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind or Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Also throughout the show's run, the historic County Theater features the classic films highlighted in the exhibit. April 17-September 5, 2010. Michener Museum, 138 S. Pine Street, Doylestown, (215) 340-9800, michenermuseum.org; County Theater, 20 E. State Street, Doylestown, (215) 345-6789, countytheater.org
• Late Renoir makes one of two U.S. stops at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibition follows Pierre-Auguste Renoir's later years as he considered his legacy and created masterpieces that draw comparisons to those of the old masters. With 100 works of art, including 20 by avant-garde painters like Matisse and Picasso who drew inspiration from his artistry, Late Renoir paints a portrait of the artist as innovator, teacher and elder artistic statesman. June 17-September 6, 2010. 26th Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org

Sporting & Gaming:

• The country's newest Major League Soccer team, the Philadelphia Union kicks off its first game in the brand new PPL Park stadium on June 27, 2010. Spectators at the new 18,500-seat stadium will enjoy views of the Delaware River, a restaurant, 30 luxury suites, a club section and dedicated areas for tailgating, picnicking and music. Soccer fans can catch early-season games at Lincoln Financial Field. Chester Waterfront, philadelphiaunion.com
• In the summer, the PECO Multicultural Series at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing celebrates the diverse cultures that make Philadelphia a distinct city. Every other weekend, visitors to the picturesque waterfront can enjoy the free series, which includes the Israel Independence Day Festival, the Caribbean Festival and the Russian Mosaic Festival. June-September 2010. Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street, (215) 922-2FUN, delawareriverwaterfrontcorp.com
• The city of Philadelphia rolls the dice on its first casino in summer 2010 when the first phase of SugarHouse Casino opens in Fishtown. What makes this place a winner? 1,700 slot machines, a restaurant with outdoor seating, two bars/lounges and a promenade with a walking/biking path so that even non-gamers can get in on the action. The completed SugarHouse is set to open in 2013 with 1,300 additional slot machines, three more restaurants, a food court and shops.

           Columbus Boulevard & Frankford Avenue, (267) 232-2000, sugarhousecasino.com

* Wawa, a convenience store chain, is the 2010 sponsor of Welcome America!

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region's vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to Hear Philly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

SOURCE Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation